Seabuckthorn: Hardy shrub with a soft touch for environment, economy

Over the past 35 years, China has transformed 30 lakh hectares of cold desert regions across 19 provinces through large-scale seabuckthorn cultivation, establishing 2,200 seabuckthorn-based industries that process more than 2.5 lakh tonnes of berries annually. This massive effort has created lakhs of jobs and significantly improved livelihoods, according to Dr Virendra Singh, seabuckthorn expert and president of the Seabuckthorn Association of India.

Delivering the keynote address at the 10th International Seabuckthorn Association Conference held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia (Sept 1-5), Dr Singh highlighted how seabuckthorn has become a tool for both environmental restoration and economic empowerment in China. The event, organised by China’s Ministry of Water Resources, brought together over 250 delegates from India, Mongolia, Germany, Russia and other nations to discuss seabuckthorn’s role in conservation, climate resilience and health.

Delegates visited plantations and industries around Ordos, witnessing how the hardy shrub has rejuvenated barren landscapes and empowered rural communities. Mongolia and Germany, too, have benefitted through Chinese collaboration, developing seabuckthorn hybrids for their cold deserts.

Dr Singh emphasised that seabuckthorn — rich in vitamins, antioxidants, omega fatty acids and polyphenols — is already used in over 600 health products, ranging from juices and cosmetics to medicines. Its deep root system stabilises slopes, prevents erosion and supports biodiversity, making it vital for fragile ecosystems.

He revealed that China has expressed readiness to share expertise with India, particularly for Himalayan cold desert regions such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Dr Singh said he would soon present a seabuckthorn development strategy to Indian state governments, underlining its potential to combat climate change, reduce soil erosion and boost rural incomes.

Despite India’s emerging seabuckthorn industry, with more than 150 products already in the market, raw material shortages remain a challenge due to limited cultivation. Dr Singh urged Himalayan states to adopt large-scale seabuckthorn farming and advocated introducing seabuckthorn-based nutritional products in schools and canteens as healthier alternatives to processed foods.

“With climate change accelerating in high-altitude regions, seabuckthorn offers a timely and transformative solution,” Dr Singh said. He assured that the Seabuckthorn Association of India stands ready to assist state governments in formulating and implementing projects to replicate China’s success and uplift communities in India’s cold deserts.